Friedrich Schneider
Encyclopedia
Johann Christian Friedrich Schneider (born Alt-Waltersdorf, January 3, 1786 - Dessau
, November 23, 1853) was a German
composer
and conductor.
Schneider studied piano first with his father Johann Gottlob Schneider
, and then at the Zittau Gymnasium with Schönfelder and Unger. His first published works were a set of three piano sonatas
in 1804. In 1805, he commenced studies at the University of Leipzig
. He became an organist
at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig in 1812, and was named conductor in Dessau in 1821. It is thought that Schneider premiered Ludwig van Beethoven
's Piano Concerto No. 5
in Leipzig in 1811. In 1824, he was festival director of the Lower Rhenish Music Festival and his oratorio
"Die Sündflut" was premiered during this event.
Schneider composed copiously. Among his works are seven operas
, four masses
, six oratorios, 25 cantatas
, 23 symphonies
, seven piano concertos
, sonatas for violin, flute, and cello, and a number of shorter works for voice and for piano, as well as both solo and part songs
.
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, November 23, 1853) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor.
Schneider studied piano first with his father Johann Gottlob Schneider
Johann Gottlob Schneider
Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider was a German classicist and naturalist.-Biography:Schneider was born at Collm in Saxony...
, and then at the Zittau Gymnasium with Schönfelder and Unger. His first published works were a set of three piano sonatas
Piano sonata
A piano sonata is a sonata written for a solo piano. Piano sonatas are usually written in three or four movements, although some piano sonatas have been written with a single movement , two movements , five or even more movements...
in 1804. In 1805, he commenced studies at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. He became an organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig in 1812, and was named conductor in Dessau in 1821. It is thought that Schneider premiered Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Piano Concerto No. 5
Piano Concerto No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Emperor Concerto, was his last piano concerto. It was written between 1809 and 1811 in Vienna, and was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf, Beethoven's patron and pupil...
in Leipzig in 1811. In 1824, he was festival director of the Lower Rhenish Music Festival and his oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
"Die Sündflut" was premiered during this event.
Schneider composed copiously. Among his works are seven operas
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, four masses
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, six oratorios, 25 cantatas
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
, 23 symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, seven piano concertos
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
, sonatas for violin, flute, and cello, and a number of shorter works for voice and for piano, as well as both solo and part songs
Part song
A part song is a form of choral music which consists of a secular song which has been written or arranged for several vocal parts, commonly SATB choir, but also for an all-male or all-female ensemble...
.
Source
- Don Randel, The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Harvard, 1996, pp. 803-804.